You better watch out . . .

Safety tips for the holiday season

Paul Schott

Published 10:50 pm, Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Shopping done? Decorations finished? Turkey ready to cook? Good. You are set for a happy holiday week.

But you should probably add a few safety-minded items to your checklist to help make sure the season remains happy and healthy. Just as the opportunities for merriment abound, so do those for misfortune.

Thankfully, there are many effective precautions to take. Let's start at the dinner table.

Be sure to maintain your dietary and prescription regimens and avoid foods that will upset your physiological balance.

"One of the leading causes of our emergency responses over the holidays is what we'll call dietary indiscretion," said Art Romano, deputy director of Greenwich Emergency Medical Service. "People have to stay on their diet. Some people get carried away and indulge more than they should. Food incompatibility with prescribed medications can be a big problem."

A conscientious approach to cooking is also essential. Take turkey deep-frying, for instance. It's a great way to serve up a tasty Christmas Day bird. But it should be done outside, like in the driveway.

"If you deep-fry in the driveway, you're away from in the kitchen with all your flammables," said Greenwich Assistant Fire Chief Robert Kick. "That way, if it catches on fire, it won't do damage to your home. If that happens inside, that tends to create a significant mess and damage, and throws a screwball to your holiday plans."

Elsewhere in the house, don't forget about protocol with that "so delightful" fire. Leaving the ashes in the fireplace or stove is safe, Kick said.

But great care is needed when removing them. Embers can stay hot enough to start a blaze days after the fire appears to be out.

The ashes should be transferred to a metal container outside and away from the house in a clear area to cool. (Do not use a plastic bag or bucket.) Kick said filling the container with water is also a good idea -- the dousing will put out any of the embers.

Back inside, mind the candles, as well. They should be lit at least a foot away from anything combustible and placed in a holder on a sturdy surface in an uncluttered area.

Now to the decorations: We hate to dampen the holiday spirit already, but that beautiful Christmas tree can't stay forever. There's a good chance it should hold up until the new year. But once it starts to die -- shedding needles is a major indicator -- the tree needs to be taken away before it becomes a fire hazard.

Do not set the tree against your house after you remove it.

The holidays are also unfortunately a time when family conflicts often flare. Greenwich police see an uptick in domestic violence calls this time of year, according to Lt. Kraig Gray.

"Be mindful that not all family gatherings are necessarily going to be picture perfect, especially if there is old baggage between family members," Gray said. "Before a minor conflict gets worse, it could be in your best interests to go your own way and remove yourself from the situation."

Caution on the roads is essential, too.

"If you're going to drink during the holidays, don't drive," Gray said. "We will have additional patrols out looking for drunk drivers."

During each of the last four years, there have been 15 to 30 arrests for driving under the influence on Greenwich roads between mid-November and early January, according to police.

If you're a passenger, be aware of the state of your driver. And the dangers only increase at night. During the 2012 holiday season, three-fourths of the drunk drivers involved in fatal accidents were driving at night, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Take care if you venture outside for recreation, too. To all the hockey players and figure skaters out there: Stick to the rinks and other designated skating areas. Skating on ice not designated safe, particularly on a river or on Long Island Sound, is a dangerous practice.

If you do see a person or animal go through the ice, call 911 and let the professionals do the rescuing. Firefighters have extensive training for that type of emergency.

"It is clearly high risk for someone unprotected to go onto the ice to try to save another human or animal, and absolutely should not be attempted," Kick added.

"But it's not a high-risk (situation) for us. We can get there and get right to work. People should not be afraid to call us if there's an emergency on the ice."